Daily Journey Updates

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

***SCROLL DOWN TO READ TODAY'S JOURNAL ENTRIES!***

Expedition Update

Today was the first day of the Arctic 2013 Expedition! We are so excited to
welcome our 85 students from around the world, and 49 educators from diverse
fields. We start off with 3 days of learning and team-building in Ottawa.

The students are here! Checking in at Carleton University for 3 days of team
building and learning.

Hi everyone! On the way to the Canadian Museum of Civilization in
Ottawa.

Learning and fun at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Getting to know each other at Carleton campus!

Expedition Leader Geoff Green welcomes the team to our first Expedition
Briefing for Arctic 2013!

We have another big day tomorrow, with workshops on the 1913 Canadian Arctic
Expedition; visits to Parliament and the Canadian Museum of Nature; and our
first Arctic Hour panel discussion, on the History of the Arctic!

Hey y'all! Was a great trip coming to Ottawa although the heat became
sweltering. But everyone was so welcoming and friendly it would be hard to be
glum. Although somehow, I don't feel to have realized the true extent of my
upcoming adventure. I expect there may be only two possible outcomes as far as
how the trip may affect my outlook: either make me more cynical or make me more
optimistic. Either way, the group of people assembled here is quite
extraordinary--and you had thought I was an overachiever! Along with making
friends I'm also definitely brushing up on my French.

*****

NOA AMSON

Hey everyone!!

So far, the day has been quite busy; I went for an hour-long roller ski this
morning and a swim before leaving to catch the train. When I got on the train,
I was not sitting beside the other Leacross scholarship recipients. I sat
beside another girl with whom I talked until she got off at the station before
me, at which point I ventured into the other cars to search for the two other
students going on the expedition. I had not been too excited during the hours
preceding the train ride, but as soon as I connected with Rosie and Aimee, I
started looking forward to the expedition even more. We had a great time on the
train and were picked up by Olivia and Roger, after joining Karolanne and
Raphaelle. There were staff who gave us our name tags and showed us to our
rooms, all in the Carleton Residence. Finally, we picked out our Students on
Ice Canada Goose vests which are awesome!! I got the last blue one. We were
also given toques and a t-shirt. I am really looking forward to meeting
everyone else on the expedition!!

These days, leading up to our expedition, are a lesson in how to pack. How
to pack for a journey into the unknown. For many of us that means an unknown
landscape, for all of us it means an unknown space inside ourselves and with
each other. A space we will make by going there. Here in Ottawa, we're learning
how to go to this place called the Arctic together.

We are right now a swirl of faces and name badges. We are from everywhere -
Memphis, Iqaluit, Pond Inlet, Portugal Cove, Nelson, Oakville, Shanghai. Each
of us has had to sit in a room and think about what to bring with us, and what
to leave at home. I asked a group of students today, what did you bring and
why? Warm clothes - because, well, it will be cold. My iPod - it has photos of
my family. Ambition - because I'll need to work hard. What did we leave? My
colleague shared that he could not bring pictures of his kids along, it's too
hard to look at them. Photos of my kids are glued on the inside of my journal.
Some relish the idea of unplugging, of leaving their gadgets behind. Some, I
can see, are quietly terrified of it.

Today we had an amazing lecture by David Gray on the Canadian Arctic
Expeditions that took place between 1913 and 1918. We find, in the landscape
today, the evidence of what was brought. A broken teacup, a silver spoon, a
pair of snow goggles carved from ivory. And those who did not plan well, those
who did not adapt - those expeditions failed. Because it is about what you
bring and what you leave, but perhaps it is also - or even more - about what
you find. And what you do with what you find. "I want to take what is essential
and find what is essential in the process" I wrote in my journal last night.
Today, our director of education said something similar. He quoted Tennyson: I
am a part of all that I have met, yet all experience is an arch where through
gleams that untravelled world whose margin fades for ever and forever when I
move.

The space we will be creating together on this journey is a temporary space,
a temporary space layered over an ancient and changing one. We will need to
find what is essential there and hold on to it. And we need to leave enough
room in our bags to bring that home.

*****

DAVONNA KASOOK

What an amazing first day. We toured the museum of civilization and it was
absolutely incredible. There was an area that was fixed almost like a small
community and I actually felt like I went back in time and was literally IN the
community. I learned a little about voudouism which was quite interesting
because my ancestors were said to be shamans that were part of a clan called
the "crow clan" so it was neat to learn about another culture and way of life.
Ottawa is treating me pretty well other than my wicked sunburn. I could get
used of no mosquitos or bulldogs swarming me every time I leave the house, but
I'm not really enjoying the humidity. It's almost unbearable. I'm pretty
homesick for my dogs, friends, my mom and my boyfriend, but the fact that I'm
privileged enough to be going on this expedition kind of eases the sick feeling
in my stomach. I'll definitely be posting every day for those of you following
me from home so I hope you enjoy virtually joining me on this expedition. Don't
worry I'll rep Inuvik as best as I can and make sure everyone knows where it is
by the end of the expedition. Hope you all enjoy reading my posts! Miss
everyone and home like crazy, ESPECIALLY TREVOR :) love you guys and don't
forget about me while I'm away lol just kidding. Make sure you keep following
us and check out the photos. You can post on Facebook and tag me IF you
want ( hint hint ) See you guys in about 2 weeks!

*****

MAIKE VAN NIEKERK

Day One: Plane ride introduction!
Dear Journal,
Wow! Time really does fly. I still remember the first time I ever heard about
Students on Ice was around this time last year..

Last summer I was attending a summer camp called Shad Valley where I met
some amazing friends including Emma, Margaret and Michelle. We were all sitting
on the floor at UNB when Emma suddenly brought up how jealous she was if her
friend. Curious, we asked her what her friend was doing. What could be more fun
than spending a full summer with a bunch of nerds at Shad Valley? (although,
jokes aside, it was one of the best experiences of my life, and I am hoping
Students on Ice will be the same!) After our questions, Emma finally went on to
tell us about what her friend was up to.

As Emma spoke vivid images of extraordinary Arctic species raced across my
mind. The thought of having the chance to visit such a remote and fragile part
of the world is just amazing. Emma's friend was participating in an expedition
called Students on Ice, a two week trip to Arctic. Sure I learned about the
various vegetative species and animals in Geography 3202 and Envirothon, it
just is not the same as seeing, feeling and smelling it in person. I want to
view the environment with a greater respect, I want to be passionate about
saving it, I just wanted to see it! Watching Ale Gore's movie was moving, but
it just did not give me the spark that I needed to create a true impact and
difference in my community. I knew I needed to go to the Arctic.

When I returned home from New Brunswick the first thing I did apart from
showering and eating was look at the Students on Ice website. In absolute awe,
I read all of the information, the outstanding biographies, and watched the
breath-taking videos.

Months later, I travelled to Saskatchewan for the Canadian Student
Leadership Conference. To my amazement, the man whose biography I had read and
admired stood in front of me... Geoff Green. Geoff was right there!! The man on
the internet. You can only imagine how excited I was. Geoff was there to
inspire young leaders to join his expedition during the summer of July 2013.
Together, his words of enthusiasm couples with his previous expedition photos
sealed the deal... I was going to go to the Arctic and I would do anything in
my power to make my dream a reality!

Only moments after watching Geoff's presentation, I ran up to meet him in
person, and tell him that I was going to apply for his innovative, once in a
life time program! Not only was he encouraging, later he brought one of my hand
made duct tape wallets at the trade market, to support Newfoundland's Janeway.
While purchasing a wallet, I remember how impressed he was with my selling and
creating of wallets, and he told me that I need to apply for his program!

Immediately after receiving the e-mail from Cara-Leigh of the application, I
began working on my essays. For hours and hours I wrote the essays, edited
them, finalized them and re-read them over and over again - just to make sure
there were no mistakes to be seen. I wanted this opportunity more than
anything, and so I tweeked my application to perfection.

Then, for what seemed to be forever, I patiently waited on the day we were
supposed to hear back from the SOI staff. I waited patiently, calling the
office to check on when I would found out if I made the cut! Yes, indeed, I was
the annoying anxious five year old child all over again. Yet I was left further
on the edge of my seat when the SOI team told the applicants that we would not
know whether or not we had made it onto the expedition until a week after.
Though that seemed to be years, the e-mail was worth every second of waiting,
and every hour of applying... Not only was I notified that I was invited to
become a part of the SOI 2013 team, but I was also told I was a top finalist
for a scholarship, and that they just had to wait to her back from the sponsor
to reconfirm. Well, happy was not even the word to explain the emotions that I
felt while reading that e-mail. I must have forwarded it to all of my teachers,
and called just about everyone of my family and friends.

Then, all of a sudden, I received the most disappointing news ever. I had
lost the funding for the scholarship and I was going to have to fundraise all
of the money... I immediately started to make sponsoring sheets to which I
handed out to various sponsors.

Things started out slow, I will admit that. Things only really started to
pick up after my interview with CBC ratio. All of a sudden, sponsors began to
pile up like crazy. A part from having amazing sponsors including Altronics,
The National Shoe, McHugh's Bar, State of the Art framing, The Animal Health
Care Clinic, Cabot Pest Control and Ford, I had amazing discounts on clothing
from The National Shoe, who donated an amazing pair of hiking shoes, Arthur
James and Sports Check. Before I knew it, community members began to donate
money and Scotia Recycling opened up an account for me so that community
members could donate their recyclables. Before no time, the $10,000.00 was
fundraised. THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Now, I am anxiously sitting on the airplane leaving for Ottawa! I can't wait
to meet everyone and I can't thank everyone who helped me enough!

Talk to you later!
Maike van Niekerk :)

*****

MAIKE VAN NIEKERK

Day One: First day of SOI
Dear Journal,
Back again for the second time today, and I am already ready to tell you a
bunch of new news! When I arrived from the plane I was met by a cheerful man
named Mike. He was standing with a large SOI sign, wearing a huge smile. He
began to speak to me about his amazing experience with SOI, and told me some
advice for the trip, such as wearing a patch that would prevent motion
sickness.

I then was introduced to the "taxi driver" named Kieran. Kieran spoke to me
about his true occupation that involved discovering new fossils, and how to
Arctic was full of amazing fossils, and still has extraordinary species, of
course, including the polar bear.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Carleton residence was finally able
to meet Shirley, the woman who had been e-mailing me for the past few months.
She has encouraged me so much throughout my entire fundraising, which I am
extremely grateful for. She handed me my room key, room 209, and I was brought
up to my room within the residence. I took a quick shower to clean myself off
from the extremely warm weather...

After cleaning up, I returned downstairs to join Clare in sorting out our
"swag". Claire and I sorted through the super cool Canada Goose Jackets, I
would have never thought that they would have donated so much amazing gear, so
I was beyond excited! I also received a Canada Goose hat, as well as, a SOI
shirt. I felt thankful for everything that was donated to the SOI team.

When I returned to the residence building, I was surprised and delighted
when Shirley asked me if I wanted to be interviewed by CTV news, because of my
fundraising story! Of course I said yes to this, I thought it was a great
honour.

Before the interview, however, a few of us managed to get down to Moonie
beach! Immediately I had the chance to meet some amazing individuals including
a fellow Newfoundland mentor, Tiffany, who was representing the Marine
institute, a man named David Henry who is a marine educator and
conservationist, a guy named Edmund from San Francisco, and a girl named Lucie
from Switzerland! Oh! And of course a super cool science teacher from northern
Alberta named Rose Lapointe. It was an extremely hot day, and despite the water
being a slightly brown colour, all of us felt the need to go for a little dip
in the water.

It was only at the beach for around an hour or so before I had to return for
my interview. Along with myself, a guy from Rhode Island named Spencer Darveau,
who won a scholarship to come to the Arctic, was getting interviewed. The
interview went over really well, we were asked questions that I had always been
thinking to myself about... Why do I want to be here? What do I want to
learn?

After getting some lunch we began to make our way to the bus that ook us to
The Canadian Museum of Civilization. There, Lucie, Tiffany, and myself had an
amazing time. A part from learning and seeing some amazing things in "First
Peoples Hall", as well as the "Special Exhibitions" gallery, perhaps the most
fun to be found was in the "Canadian Children's Museum"! There, us three girls
really began to bond as we took pictures dressed up, in an astonishing theatre,
pretending to drive a disco bus, and had our "passport" stamped at all the
different stations. It was great!

When we returned from the museum, we had a quick supper, and then were given
an introductory presentation by the amazing found of SOI, Geoff Green. He told
us we were travelling to Western Greenland and then to Eastern Arctic, were we
would be having some encounters with Arctic wildlife (hopefully polar bears!!),
workshops, zodiac cruises, hikes, hands-on research activities, as well as,
visiting Northern communities, to attend events and learn about the native
people's culture. He spoke about some rules and regulations, and then discussed
that flexibility is key and so is good karma!

I feel absolutely honoured and privileged to have the opportunity to meet
all of these incredible youth and inspiring mentors, and I just cannot wait to
get on the Sea Adventurer and share these amazing discoveries and self
realizations with them!

Once again, I would like to thank CBC ratio, Sports Check, Arthur James, The
National Shoe, Altronicds, State of the Art framing, McHugh's Bar, The Animal
Health Care Centre, Ford, Cabot Pest Control, and Scotia Recycling, you guys
are amazing! And to all of the community members that helped me achieve me
dream!

Talk to you soon,
Maike van Niekerk:)

*****

MICAH MAY

Since arriving in Ottawa, it has been quite enjoyable exchanging stories and
facts about my home town with others from all the different countries. It has
been great to meet with Tor and Marius who live in Norway where things are much
different, such as Parliament, but have many things in common like sports and
the love for being outdoors in the snow.